Rail joint and brace



L. A. BUCK.

RAH. JOINT AND BRACE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. 1919.

1,342,323. Patented June 1,1920

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. A. BUCK.

RAIL JOINT AND BRACE. APPLICATION FILED 0:0. 2. I919.

1,342,323. I Paten ed J 11110 1, 1920.

= if v LANDON A. BUCK, OF COOPER, TEXAS.

RAIL JOINT AND BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed December 2, 1919. Serial No. 341,911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lennon A. Boon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cooper, in the county of Delta and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Rail Joints and Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway tracks, particularly to rail joint structures, and has for its object the provision of a rail joint and brace including a main member extending beneath a rail and extending along both sides thereof, and a movable member engaging the rail and the main member and having a wedging engagement with the latter whereby to jam the meeting ends of rails firmly to prevent any possible lateral displacement, the device being also so constructed as to brace the ends of the rails very firmly so as to prevent any dropping down of the joint and make the joint as rigid as any integral portion of a rail.

An important object is the provision of a rail joint of this character in which the movable member may be adjusted and tightened to take up wear in case rails should eventually after long use become slightly loose at the joints.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly eifident in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

"With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one side,

.the numeral 10 and comprising a base por- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite tion 11, an upstanding side portion 12 which has its upper edge disposed against the underside of theballs of'the rail sections, and further includes an opposite side portion 13 which has onits inner face adjacent the base 11, a longitudinally extending groove 141 which tapers throughout its length, as clearly shown. The side member 12 carries a plurality of preferably cylindrical lugs 15 cast thereon or secured thereon by any suitable means which pass through holes 16 formed in the webs of the meeting ends of the rail sections.

Associated with the member 10 is a movable member designated broadly by the numeral 17 and which comprises an elongated member or body engaging against the webs of the rail sections and having formed upon its outer face a gradually tapering rib 18 conformingly engaging within the groove 14 of the member 18. When this movable member is forced between the side member 13 and the rail sections it will be apparent that it will firmly clamp the member 13 and the rail sections and jam the rail sections firmly against the side member 12 of the support 10. At its ends, the flange portion 19 of the member 17 is provided with a plurality of notches 2O registering selectively with holes 21 formed in the end portions of the base 11 and these registering openings are for the reception of spikes B which not only hold the entire device firmly upon the cross ties C but also hold the movable member 17 rigid. The opposite edges of the base 11 intermediate the ends thereof, are also provided with notches 22 for the passage of spikes in the same manner. I preferably provide two or more set screws 23 threaded through the side portion 18 and engageable with the movable member '17 for holding the movable member firmly before the spikes are driven into place.

In the use of the device the rail sections A. are placed with their base portions engaging upon the base 11 of the support 10 with the lugs 15 entering the holes 16. The side 12 of the member 10 will engage one side of the webs of the sections, as clearly understandable. The movable member 17 is then inserted in place between the rail webs and the side member 13 and is then forced into place so that the tapering rib 18 cooperating with the tapering groove 14 will cause the rail sections to be firmly gripped. The various spikes are then driven into place, after ment of the device upon the ties and also any movement of the rails With respect to the device is impossible.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it Will be apparent .that I have thus provided a very simply constructed and yet highly eficient rail joint and brace Which Will make the joint extremely rigid and secure and Which Will prevent any possible dislocation of parts. It Will also be observed that in the event of any loosening resulting from long continued use of the track, that'the spikes may be Withdrawn from the registering notches and holes 20 and 21, respectively, and the movable member 17 forced along to bring the next notches 20 in registration With the holes 21, after Which the spikes are again driven into place.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as Will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A rail joint structure comprising a main supporting member including a base portion upon Which the meeting ends of rail sections are disposed, a side member formed integrally upon said base portion and engaging against the Webs of the rail sections, spaced lugs extending from said side mem ber and engaglng in corresponding openingsformed in the Webs of the rail sections, said supporting member further including a second side member spaced from the Webs of the rail sections and having its inner face longitudinally tapered throughout its length, a movable Wedge member disposed between said second named side member and the rail sections and havin a portion engaging the rail Webs and further having :a flan e portion engaging the tops and edges of the rail bases, a longitudinal rib formed on the lower edge of said second named side member and tapered throughout its length for conforming engagement Within a groove formed in said movable member, the end portions of the base of the supporting member being provided with spike receiving holes, and the end portions of said movable member being provided With notches registering selectively With said holes for the passage of securing spikes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAND'ON A. BUCK. 

